Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

Nineteen people were killed and at least 40 injured Thursday when a series of explosions ripped through fireworks workshops in a town just north of Mexico City.

The dead included four firefighters and two police officers who rushed to the scene after the first explosion, only to be killed by a second wave of blasts.

Video shot from a nearby highway showed a massive plume of smoke rising up from the area of the explosions in the town of Tultepec. Other images released by local media showed wrecked buildings and scorched ground in a rural patch of modest homes and small farm plots. Authorities said four small buildings were destroyed.

The government of the State of Mexico said in a statement that eight people from Tultepec were killed, along with the six emergency personnel and two others who have not yet been identified. The state civil defense office later raised the death toll to 19, but did not specify who the other victims were in a statement posted to its Twitter account.

The government said first responders were also among the injured. Helicopters took the wounded to several local hospitals, and more than 300 police were dispatched to the scene. (AP)

Women embrace at the site of a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 17 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

Paramedics wheel a stretcher carrying a man injured due to fireworks explosions toward a helicopter in the municipality of Tultepec, on the outskirts of Mexico City, Mexico July 5, 2018. (Photo: Daniel Becerril/Reuters)

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Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

A firefighter walks at the site of a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 19 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

A man and woman embrace as they look at the site of a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 17 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

Police officers stand guard at the site after a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 17 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

A forensic technician inspects a site damaged due to fireworks explosions in the municipality of Tultepec, on the outskirts of Mexico City, Mexico July 5, 2018. (Photo: Daniel Becerril/Reuters)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

Women walk away from the site of a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 17 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

Charred vehicles are seen at the site of a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 19 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

A soldier looks at the site after a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 17 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

Fireworks explosion near Mexico City kills more than a dozen

Aerial view of the site of a series of explosions at fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, central Mexico, on July 5, 2018. – At least 17 people were killed, including rescue workers who died saving others’ lives, officials said. The initial explosion occurred around 9:30 am (1430 GMT), then spread to other warehouses just as police and firefighters began attending to the first victims. (Photo: Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)